A Childhood Friend, Reunited After 10 Years Acts Deredere With Me - Chapter 16 - Aware about Love

“A test of courage?”

I asked Alice about it. Come to think of it, I don’t think that was in the pamphlet…

“I think it’s in the pamphlet! The test of courage is a test of friendship between a man and a woman, and it is held in pairs. The pairs are drawn by lot, and if a man and a woman mutually agree, they can become a pair. So…please! Please pair with me!”

It’s like she’s asking me to go out with her. It’s okay to accept that much, and I accepted her hand.

“Ok. Please take care of me.”

“Yay! I’m going to test my courage with Sora!”

“The time is… 8 o’clock, huh.”

I looked at the bookmark and saw that the event would take place right after dinner. I looked at the clock and saw that it was already five o’clock.

“Just a few more hours, huh?”

“Mufufufu, I’m looking forward to it~”

………

……

…

Dinner ended without incident, and finally it is time for the test. The students are excitedly drawing their lots, men and women go ahead with their flashlights, and several people are watching them off.

In the case of Alice and I, we are the waiting group.

“Is this…a test of courage?”

I was a little puzzled because it was no longer a festive atmosphere. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to it, too.

“Hey you guys!”

“Nn? Shunya…why are you dragging Akira around?”

The two who appear are Shunya and his girlfriend Shiina (he told me it should be Shiina). (He told me it was okay to call her Shiina.) And then there was Akira, who was incredibly unhappy.

“This guy was like, ‘This test of courage is nothing. I’m going to train my muscles.” So, I somehow got him out of there by telling him that he was going to have a one-on-one with me. But it’s no use. This is what happens when you’re not the bait.”

Akira is certainly not resisting, but his face is clearly looking like he is going to be a pain in the ass. Shunya is also a strong soccer player at the national level, so how can he be so dissatisfied?

“Shunya is boring because he’s always in a one-on-one fight in club activities. He’s boring. He’s easy to stop because he has the same attack pattern. Try dribbling like a dribbling machine and I’ll think about it.”

“Look, can you not ask for unreasonable things? I’m human, so there’s no way I can do what Sora can.”

“Oi, wait a minute. Why’re you making it look like I’m not human?”

And so, we waited until it was our turn to enter, chatting with each other.

〜〜〜

Our turn came around, and we turned on the flashlight and walked along the dimly lit street with Alice.

“….”

“Sora?”

“! W-What is it?”

Bikkun! I asked, to hide the fact that my body had jumped.

“Maybe…you don’t like the dark?”

“I was lost in the mountains when I was in the second grade after you left…”

I still remember being left alone in the pitch black forest. Since then, I have a phobia of the dark.

“Fufu, I’m going to drown out your fear, then~”

Saying that, Alice hugged me as usual. At that moment, my feet stopped unconsciously.

“Alice, you know…”

Alice must have wondered, because she pulled away from me and tilted her head.

“What?”

“What’s it like to be in love?”

I suddenly asked her that. I had already said it, and there was no going back now. I’ll say what I was prepared to say.

“…Well, In my case, I can only think about that person, and when I’m close to them, my heart flutters…I feel as if my heart will explode if I hold them close to me. But… it makes me feel so warm and happy.”

Alice put her hand on her chest and had a small smile.

“…In junior high school, I hated women because of one thing. I’m much better now, but there’s still a part of me that can’t accept your love for me.”

This guy really likes me. I’m very happy about that feeling. But I can’t go out with him. I can’t go out with him because I don’t trust him from the bottom of my heart.

“But lately, when you’re next to me, I feel at ease and my heart starts to beat a little faster.”

It was simple enough when I thought about it. When we went to the amusement park, I was conflicted and refused to kiss him. If I didn’t like it, I would have come to a conclusion right away.

Even when we took a bath together, I don’t lust after a woman I don’t like.

Perhaps… this feeling.

“I’m… in love with you.”

A moment later, there was a dull thud, and my consciousness went dark.